Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy has recorded the lowest ever score at the halfway point of a U.S. Open, which is being played this year in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, Maryland.

McIlroy shot a five-under-par 66 in Friday's second round at Congressional Country Club after a 65 on Thursday to give him a two-round total of 11-under-par 131 for 36 holes.

Before he played his final hole Friday, the 22-year-old golfer reached 13-under-par, the lowest score at any point in the 111-year history of the U.S. Open. But then he hit his ball in the water by the 18th hole, and had a double bogey to lose two strokes.

McIllroy was one of the earlier finishers Friday and he had a commanding lead at the time of eight shots over South Korean Y.E. Yang.